Newspapers / The Durham Recorder (Durham, … / May 13, 1909, edition 1 / Page 2
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ptt rTi?TMM RECORDER. i Bhe Si BLACK-! BAG By Louis Joseph Vance C.MriSk(. IS SOS. by Ik Bobks-Mvill Co. sSo yon knew 1 was an American, Mr. Calendar?" suggested KIrkwood. "Saw your name on the register. We. both ball from tbe same neck of the woods, you know." "I didnl know It. and" "Yes: I'm from Frisco too." "And I'm sorry." Mr. Calendar passed Ore fat fingers nervously over bis mustache, glanced alertly up at KIrkwood. aa If momen tarily Inclined to question bis tone, then again stared glumly Into tbe fire, for KIrkwood bad maintained an attitude purposefully colorless. Not to put too fine a point upon It. be believed that bis caller was lying. Tbe man's appearance, bis mannerisms, bis voice and enunciation, while tbey might have been- American, seemed all un Caiifornhru. To one born and bred In that state, as KIrkwood bad been, ber sons are unmistakably ball marked. Now. no man lies without motive This one chose to reaffirm, with a show of deep feeling: "Yes. I'm from Frisco too. We're companions in misfortune." "I hope not altogether." sakl KIrk wood politely. Mr. Calendar drew his own infer encea from tbe response and mustered p a show of " cheerfulness. "Then you're not completely wiped outT "To the contrary. I was hoping yon were less unhappy." "Ob, then you are?" KIrkwood lifted tbe cable message from tbe mantel. "I have just beard from my partner at home." he said, with a faint smile, and quoted: "'Er erything gone. No Insurance.'" Mr. Calendar pursed his plump lips. whistling inaudibly. "Too bad, too bad!" be murmured sympathetically "We're all bard bit. more or less." lie lapsed into dejected apathy, from which KIrkwood, growing at length ' Impatient, found it necessary to rous him. "Yon wished to see me about some thing else. I'm sure." sir. Calendar started from bis rev erte. "Eh? I was Urea mice. I Wv. pardon. It seem bard to realize. l!r jv Irk wood, that this awfui ratastrop! fcas overtaken onr beloved metropolis Tbe canting phrase wearied Kirk wood. Abruptly be cut in: "Would a sovereign help yon out. Sir. Calen dar? I don't mind telling yon thru about the iiailt cf my rrawnt tv source ." rardon me." Mr. Calendar's moon- Eke countenance darkened. He as sumed a transparent dignity. "You misconstrue my motive, sir." "Then I'm sorry." "I am not here to borrow. On the other band, quite by accident I dlscov ered your name upon tbe register downstairs, a good old Frisco name if you wiM permit me to say so. I thought t rnyelf that here was chance to help a fellow countryman?" Calendar paused Interrogatively. Kirk wood remained interested, but silent "If a passage across would help you I-I think It might be arranged." sum- red Calendar. Ill at ease. "It might." admitted KIrkwood spec latlvely. "I could fix It so that you could go over first class, cf course and pay your way. so to speak, by rendering os. me and mj partner, a trifling serv fce," -Ahr In fart." continued Calender, warm- tog np to bis theme, "there might be something mora In It for you than tbe passage 1-IX you're tbe tight man. the tna Fib looking for." "That, of courts, is the question." "Eh7 Calendar pulled up suddenly la full winged fiight of enthusiasm. KIrkwood eyed blm steadily. "I aid that It is a question. Mr. Calen dar, whether or not I an the man you're looking for. Between you and so and tbe Credos. I don't believe I am. Now. If you wish to nam your quid pro quo. this trifling service I'm to render In recognition of your bene elence, you may." "I'e-is," slowly. But tbe speaker de layed his reply until be had surveyed bis host from bead to foot with a glance both critical and appreciative. He saw a man In height rather less than the stork six six feet so ouch In demand by the manufacturers of mod era heroes of fkttoa-a man a til round shouldered, too, bat otherwise sturdily built, self contained, well groomed. KIrkwood wears a boy's honest fact. No one has ever called him handsome. A few prejudiced persona bare deckled that be has ao Interesting counte nance The proponnders of this verdict tttve been, for tha most part, feminine. KIrkwood himself has been beard to declare that Lis features do not fit In lu esaeuce the statement Is true, but there Is a very real. If nodeflnable, egaglng quality la their very Irregu larity, tils eyes are brown, pleasant. set wide apart, straightforward of ts aressiosi. New, It appeared that, whatever bis Bsotivs. Mr. Calendar had acted apoo taipuise la sending bis card tip to Kirkwood. At all events, this Calen dar proved not lacking In penetration. Men of Lis stamp are commonly en 4wtl with that quality to aa eminent decree. Nvt stow to reckon tha can hero( Ua tuaa lftffJ4j8.1bt Jeavea ; - i SPx r "I vaa looking for tomn one to$ervmt in a certain capacity. of Intuition began to work m his adi pose Intelligence, no owned himself baffled. . "Thanks." he concluded pensively; "I reckon you're right You won't do, after all. ' I've wasted your time mine too." ' "Don't mention it" Calendar got heavily out of his chair, real-bin; f.r til bat and umbrella Termit me to apologize for an un warrantable Intrusion. Mr. KIrkwood." He faltered. A worried and calculating look shadowed his small eyes. "I wa looking for some one to serve me In a certain capaclty"- "Certaln or questionable?" propound ed KIrkwood blandly, opening the door Pointedly Mr. Calendar Ignored the Imputation. "Sorry 1 disturbed you G'dafternoon. Mr. KIrkwood." "Good by. Mr. Calendar." A smile twitched the corners of KIrkwood's too wide mouth. Calendar stepped hastily out Into tbe hall. KIrkwood closed tbe door and tbe Incident simultaneously with a smart bang of finality. Laughing quietly, be went back to tbe window, with Its dreary outlook, now the drear ler for lengthening evening shadows. "I wonder what his game la. any way. An adventurer, of course. The wocds are full of 'em. A queer fish, even Lis kind. And with a trick up tils sleeve as queer and fishy as himself, no doubt." CHAPTER II. I MIS asumitk-n seems uot un 1 warrantable that Mr. Calendar figuratively washed his band f Mr Kirkwood Cnquestion ibly Mr. KlrUwNd considered him self well rid of Mr. Calendar. Whet tbe latter had gone his way, KIrk wood. mindful of tbe fact that his boat train would leave St Pancras at 1120. set about bis tacking and dismissed from bis thoughts tbe Incident created by tbe fat adventurer and at 6 o'clock or thereabouts let himself out of his room, dressed for the evening, a light raincoat over one arm. In tbe other band a cane, tbe drizzle having ceased. A stolid British lift carried blm down to the ground Coor of tbe establish ment In something alert of five min utes. Pauxlntr In the i'.t long enough to settle bis bill and Kave Inxtrucllous to bare bis luggage conveyed to tbe boat train, be received with entire equanimity tbe affable benediction of the clerk. In whose eyes be still fig ured as that radiant creator, an American millionaire, and passed on to the lobby, where be surrendered hat coat and stick to t' Honkrnoia at tendant vtp entering ast, lining room. The hour was a ti.- early for a London dinner, tbe handsome room but moderately filled with patrons. Kirkwood absorbed tbe fact uncon sciously and without displeasure. Tbe earlier tbe better, he was determined to consume his last civilized meal (as he cboso to consider In at his serene leisure, to live folly bit ebbing mo menu la the world to which ha was born, to drink to Its cloying dregs ooa ultimate draft of luxury. With a deferential flourish tha wait er brought him tha men a card. lie bad served la his time many aa Amer ican millionaire; he had also served this Mr. KIrkwood. and respected him as one exalted above tha run of his kind la that be comprehended the art of dining. Fifteen minutes later tha waiter de parted rejoicing, bis order complete. To distract a conscience whispering of extravagance KIrkwood lighted a cigarette. Tbe room waa gradually filling with later arrivals. It waa tha most fa vored restsurant la London, and de spite tbe radiant costumta of tba wom en Its atmoapbers remained asdatt and restful A cab clattered down tba aids street ' oa which tht window opened. ..... . j At a nearojr tame a woman wojjueu. quietly happy. Incuriously KIrkwood glanced ber way. She waa bending forward, smiling, flattering ber escort ! with tha adoration of her eyes. Tbey era lovers alone la tha wilderness of tba crowded rests ortnt Tbey seemed ! very happy. KIrkwood was conscious or a strange pang of emotion. It took blm some time to comprehend that It was envy. He was alone and lonely. For the flrtit time bo realized that BO woman bad ever bked urn him i the wv msn st the ndJnMrT tMe looked upon her lover. He bud found lima to wor- (sbja but one tnlgtrtsarPlajrt And he was renouncing her. He was painfully conscious of what be bad missed, had lost or bad not yet found the love of woman, ; The sensation was curious, new, ' unique In his experience. : J nis tlgarette burned down to his fingers as he sat pondering. Abstract edly be ground its fire out In an asb tray. , - - ' . The waiter set before him a stiver tureen, covered. lie sat up and began to consume his soup, scarce; doing It Justice. Ills dream troubled him his dream of the love of woman. , . , From a Utile distance bis waiter re garded him" with an air of disappoint ment In the course of an hour and a half he awoke to discover the attend ant In tbe act of pouring very hot and black coffee from a bright silver pot Into a demitnsse of fragile porcelain. KIrkwood slipped a single lump of sugar Into the cup. gave over his cigar case to be filled, then leaned back, de liberately lighting a long and slender panetela as a preliminary to a last lin gering appreciation of the scene of which he was a part He reviewed it "through narrowed eyelids lazily, yet with some slight surprise, seeming to see It with new vision, with eyes from which scales of Ignorance bad dropped. - '. This long and brilliant dining ball, with Its quiet perfection of proportion and appointment bad always gratified his love of tbe beautiful. Tonight It pleased blm to an unusual degree Yet It was the same as ever. Its walls, tinted a deep rose, with tbelr bnnglngs of dull cloth of gold. Its lights discrim inatingly clustered and discreetly shaded, redoubled In half a hundred mirrors; its subdued shimmer of plate and glass. Its soberly festive assem blage of circumspect men and womeu splendidly gowned. Its decorously muted murmur of voices penetrate! and Interwoven by the strain of a bidden string orchestra, caressed his senses as always, yet with a differ ence. Tonight he ssw It a room pu lous with lovers, lovers Insensibly paired, man unto woman attentive, woman of man regardful. ' He had never understood this before. This much be had missed In life. It seemed bard to realize that one must forego It all forever. Presently he fonud himself icutely self conscious. Tbe sensation puzzled blm. and without appearing to do so he traced It from effect to cause ami found the cause lu a woman a girl, rather uutcd at a table the tblrd re moved from blm. near tbe farther wall of the room. Ton considerate and too embarrassed to return her scrutiny openly, look for look, be yet felt sure that however temporarily, be was become tbe ob ject of ber Intent Interest Idly employed with his cigar, be sipped his coffee. In time aware that tbe bad turned her attention else where. bt looked up. At first he was conscious of sn ef fect of disappointment. She was no body that be koew. even by ruv tloa. gje was simply a young girl, barely out of her teens If as old as tbat phrase would signify. He won dered what she bad found In blm to make ber think him worth so long a rtudy and looked again, more keenly curious. With this second glance appreciation stirred tbe artistic side of bis nature. that was already grown Impatient of his fretted mood. Tbe slender and girl ish figure, Ned with such absolute lack of Intrusion against a screen of rose and gilt moved blm to critical admiration. The tinted glow of shaded candles caught glistening on tbe spun gold of ber fair bair enhanced the fine pallor of ber youug shoulders. In tbe sheer youtb of ber (he real ised) more than In aught else lay ber cblefest charm. She could be little wore tbao a child. Indeed, If be were to Judge ber by tbe purity of ber shad owed eyes and the absence of emotion In tbe calm and direct look which preseutly slie turned upon him who sat wondering at tba level, penciled darkness of ber brows. At length, swsre tbat ahe had sur prised bis Interest KIrkwood glanced aside coolly deliberate lest sba should detect In bis attitude anything more than Impersonal approval. A alow color burned bis cheeks. la bla temples there rose a curious puls ing. After awhlla she drew his gas again Imperiously, herself all ana ware of tbe havoc ah was wreaking on bla tem perament "Eighteen." he hatarded-"etgbteen or possibly nineteen dining at tbe Pleas la a ravishing dinner gown and un happy? Oh. bardly-not sher Yet tbe Impression haunted him, and era long ba was fain to seek confirms tlon or denial of It la tba manner of her escort Tbe latter aat with back to KIrk wood, cutting a figure as negatlva as his snng evening clothes. One could surmise little from a fleshy thick neck, a round glased bald spot a fringe of grizzled hair and two bright red ears. ' Calendar! Somehow tba fellow did suggest Klrkwood'a caller of tha afternoon. Tba young man could not have said precisely bow. for ba waa unfamiliar with tba aspect of that gentleman's back. Nona tha leas, tba suggestion persisted. By now a few of tba guests, theater bound for tha most part, were leaving Hera and there a Uble stood vacant tbat bad been filled, cloth tarnished, chairs disarranged, la another moment to ba transformed Into Its pristine bril Ilance under tbe deft attentions of tbe servitors. Down aa aisle, past tbe table at wbkb tbe girl waa sitting, rime two. rrnki-ig toward the lobby, tbe msn, a fight end m ester young personality. lu tba lead. Their party bad attracted KlriwoodJL fiojUct. .ML JJtoL BteKfc why, he did not remember." but It was In his mind that then they bad been three. Instinctively he looked at the table tbey hud left, one placed at some distance from tbe girl and hidden from ber by an ungle. In the wall. It ap peared that the tblrd member bad chosen to dally a few moments over his tobacco and a liqueur brandy. Kirkwood cnnld see him plainly fcmng Ing In his chair and fumbllug the stem of a gloss, a henry man of somber babit. bU black and sullen brows low ering and thoughtful above a fact boldly Imudsome. ' " The woman of the trio was 'Worthy of closer attention. Souio paces In the wake of her lackluster, esquire she was making a leisurely progress, trail ing the skirts of a gown magnificent beyond dispute, half concealed though It was by the opera clonk whose soft folds draped ber shoulders, Slowly, carrying ber bead high, she approach ed. Insolent eyes reviewing the room from beneath their heavy lids, a metal lic aod mature type of dark beauty supremely self confident and self pos sessed. . Men turned Involuntarily to look aft er her. uot altogether In undiluted ad miration. In tbe act of passing behind tbe pu tative Calendar she paused momenta rily, bending as If to gather up her train. Presumably the action disturb ed ber balance. She swayed a little and In tbe effort to recover rested tbe tips of ber gloved fingers upon tbe edge of tbe table. Simultaneously (KIrkwood could bare swnrni 9. sin gle word left ber lips, a word evident ly pitched for tbe ear of the hypothet ical Calendar alone. Then she swept ou. li!iMrturbable, assured., T the perplexed observer It was In dubitably evident that some commu nication bad passed from tbe woman to tbe man KIrkwood saw tbe fat shoulders of tbe girl's companion stiff en suddenly as the woman's baud rest ed nt Ills ellmw. As she moved away a little rippling shiver wss plainly vis ible In tbe muscles of bis back beneath bis coat mute token of relax lug ten sion. An Instant Inter one plump and mottled band was carelessly plsced where tb woman's had been and waa at once removed with fingers closed. To tbe girl, watching her face cov ertly, Kirkwood turned for a clew t tbe Incident .11 f made no doubt tbat she bad observed tbe passage. Proof of tbat one found iu her sudden star tling allor (of Indignation? and In bet eyes, briefly alitfht with some inscruta ble emotion, though quickly veiled b lowered lushes. Slowly enough she regained color and coniMwure. while ber vls-a-v!s sat motionless, bead In cllned. as If In t bought Abruptly tbe man turned In his chair to summon a waiter and exposed his profits KIrkwood was In now Is mazed to recognize Calendar a bad ly frightened Calendar now. however and hardly to t Identified with tbr sleek, glib fellow who had Interviewed KIrkwood Sn tbe afternoon Ills nib by cheeks were sshen and trembling aod upon the back of his chair tbe fat white fingers were drumming Inces santly an Inaudible tattoo of shattered nerves. "Scared sIHyT commented KIrk wood. "Wbyr Having spoken to bis waiter. Calen ds r for some seconds raked the room with quick glances, as If seeking an acquaintance. Presumably disappoint ed, he swung back to fa-e tbe girl. bending forward to reach ber ears with accents low pitched and con 11 deutlaL She on ber part fell at once atteutlve, grave and responsive Per haps a dozen sentences passed be tween them. At tbe outset ber brows contracted, and she shook her head In gentle Dissent whereupon Calendar's manner became more Imperative. Gradually, unwillingly, she seemed to yield consent Once sbe caught her breath sharply and. Infected by her companion's agitation, sat back, color fading agalo In tbe round young cheeks. KIrkwood's waiter put In an Inop portune appearance with tbe bllL The young man paid rt When ba looked up again Calendar had awnng Kjusre ly about la bis chair. His eye encoun tered KIrkwood's. He nodded pleas antly. Temporarily confused, KIrk wood returned tbe nod. In a twinkling he bad repented Calendar had left bis cbalr and was wending his way through the tables towsrd KIrkwood's. Reaching It b pansed. offering tbe hand of genial fellowship. KIrkwood accepted It half heartedly (what else was ba to do?. remarking at tbe same time that Cal endar had recovered much of his com posure. There was now a normal col oring In the heavily Jowled counte nance, with less glint of fear In the quick, dark eyes, and Calendar's hand, even If moist and cold, no longer trem bled. Furthermore, It waa Immediate ly demonstrated that bla Impudence had not deserted him. "Why. KIrkwood, my dear fellowr ba crowed, not ao loudly as to attract attention, but In a tone assumed to divert suspicion, should be be over heard. "This la great luck, you know, to find yoo here." "la itr returned Kirkwood coolly, tie disengaged bis fingers. Tba pink plump face was contorted la a furtive grimace of deprecation. Without waiting for permission Calen dar dropped Into the vacant chair. "Mr dear sir," ha proceeded, an- abashed, "I throw myself upon yorr mercy. , Tbe devil you dot" "1 must I'm la the deuce of bole, and there's no one 1 know here be sides yourself, I I" KIrkwood saw fit to lead blm on. partly because out of tba corner of his eye ba wss aware of tha girl's uucon ctalod suspense. "Go on, please, Mr. Calendar, Yon throw yourself on, total stranger's mercy because you're in tbe deuce of a hole, and" "It's this way, I'm called away , on urgent business Imperative business. I must go at once. My daughter Is with me my daughter! Think of my embarrassmeut. . 1 can uot leave her hertMtloue, uor can 1 permit her to go home unprotected." . Calendar paused In anxiety, "Thnt'a easily remedied then," sug gested KIrkwood. . . "How?" "Put her In a cab at the door." "No. ,The devil! I couldn't think of It You won't understand. I"- "I do not understand," amended the younger man politely. . . , Calendar compressed his lips nerv ously. It was plain tbat tbe man was quivering with Impatience and half mad with excitement ' He held quiet only long enough to regain his self control and take counsel with bis pru dence, TO BE COSTlaUKP. Your May look very well, but if It does not have a distinctiveness tbat ou are proud of there is some thing lacking. The work we turn out bears tbe stamp of good workmanship, and when we make your photos you tike pleasure in showing tnem to your friends. We sre proud of the photos we have made snd will gladly show them to you if you will calL ihe Holladay Studio Opp. the Postof fice Durham. N. C We are selling for cash and cangive you more for the money than ever before. B. W. Hobgood. Photograph : ;--:f ' . y ';.:. - i v - V ' - w I I a id J LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE, Author of "The ftlack Bag." tbe great story of mystery and romance thst Is to ran la this psper as a serial Au-oug the best known wotks of Mr. sites sre "Terence O'ltourke." -Gentleman Adventurer." "Tbe Brans Howl" and "Tba Frlrato Wsr." He bsi al been a contributor of short stories, verse, etc, to tnsgaxlnee for some years past Practical Demonstrations in Loose Leaf Bookkeeping MOORE'S MODERN METHODS of Accounting and Record-Keeping Ala a copy of Moora'a Modem Methods, a 160 page hook fflustrst. ing 40 different ledger and record forms and expUming how they are wed. Call at our Store Phone for the Book, anyway ZEB. P. COUNCIL Personally Conducted '" ' . . Tour "Around the Continent" Over the Rocky Mountains to thel'aci. fic, the Alaska Yukon Exposition, J,0 Angeles during the Klks National Con. vention aud tbtough the Yellowtone National Park via the Seaboard Air Line Railway lu charge of Mr. C. II. Gattis. District Passenger Ageuf, Raleigh, N. C, and chaperoned by Mrs. C. II. Gattis over the entire trip. Leaves July 3rd, returns August 6th circling the United States in a solid Pullman train composed of the highest grade and modern design of sleeping compartment observation, cars and Pull, man dining car, - ' The most inexpensive trip ever ope rated from the southeast, through At lanta, H!nninghmt Memphis, stopping at Kansas City, Denver, Colo.-ado Springs, Salt Lake, Los Angeles Santa Barbara,. Monteiey, Santa Crux, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Taconia, Spokane, through Yellowstone National Park, St. Paul, Chicago, returning home through Cincinnati and C. & O. through Richmond. ' . Trip cost will include railroad and Pullman fares, hotels, dining car meals, stage ride of five (s) and onebalf () da) a through the Yellowstone National Park, transfers, side trips, carriage and automobile rides at stopover points snd su actual expenses necessary. Side trips will be arranged at all stop, over points to places of interest, all de tails being arranged in advance and looked after enroute. An attractive 33-day trip through the "Greatest Country in the World" cover ing s distance of 8,755 mita of travel in a modern Pullman train with superb din ing car service, eating snd sleeping in the best of hotels, sight-seeing "Tbe Womlera of tbe Went" leisurely, with all details srrsnged iu advance is a luxury of a lifetime. Write at once to tbe underaigned for cost of trip, schedule aud itinery. If maps, timetables and booklets of the line over which the party will tmel, are desired, send 30 cents in atsmps. C. H. GATTIS, District Passenger Agent Raleigh, N. C. Today and Tomorrow we will give free of charge instruction m
The Durham Recorder (Durham, N.C.)
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May 13, 1909, edition 1
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